June 6. 2010
It has been a long time since my last entry. A lot has been going on. Nothing on photography, but much on lifestyle changes.
First, Mari and I decided we were staying in Sarasota. We needed to find someone to take over our studio in Waltham, MA and pay a key fee so we would be able to make the move work. We found someone who was actually already in the artist community.
Finally, we had to move. On April 31 we headed back north to Waltham to gather all our stuff, pack it into a truck and drive back down to Sarasota. This was my first move in over 33 years. My first task was to go through over 35 years of photography prints and cull it down to a manageable number. This took me two days of sorting and ripping. A trip down memory lane.
An important part of this whole saga is a phrase that Mari and I have both been repeating to ourselves, “Ask and it is Given”. We have both decided to embrace the concept that everything is there for us if we just ask for it. To eliminate the negative barriers that our minds can create and clear the way for RECEIVING. To fully appreciate what we have and to know that we can have MORE. Since traveling down this path we have been receiving in unexpected ways. Our studio transfer went exceedingly well. Our new home was the second house we looked at. We made an easy transition from our old life in a loft in an arts community in Waltham to a home in a pleasant place.
*Mineola means a “Pleasant Place” in Native American language
Finally, we had to move. On April 31 we headed back north to Waltham to gather all our stuff, pack it into a truck and drive back down to Sarasota. This was my first move in over 33 years. My first task was to go through over 35 years of photography prints and cull it down to a manageable number. This took me two days of sorting and ripping. A trip down memory lane.
An important part of this whole saga is a phrase that Mari and I have both been repeating to ourselves, “Ask and it is Given”. We have both decided to embrace the concept that everything is there for us if we just ask for it. To eliminate the negative barriers that our minds can create and clear the way for RECEIVING. To fully appreciate what we have and to know that we can have MORE. Since traveling down this path we have been receiving in unexpected ways. Our studio transfer went exceedingly well. Our new home was the second house we looked at. We made an easy transition from our old life in a loft in an arts community in Waltham to a home in a pleasant place.
*Mineola means a “Pleasant Place” in Native American language
Well, things did not go as smoothly as hoped for. Old demons of worry and fear rose up after a month into our stay in our new home. We both were in a state of bliss for the first month. Then, for me, worries started rising within me. As a result of these doubtful thoughts, I woke up one morning and the left side of my face was partially paralyzed. Of course the worst thought of “stroke” entered my mind. As it turns out I had Bell’s Palsy which is a virus that attacks the nerves in the face. Bell’s Palsy is often brought on by stress (a friend of mine said “isn’t everything”). It generally heals it’s self in a month or so.
This was a very clear reminder that I need to stay vigilant in my thought process and not give energy to thoughts of worry. I have been forced into a state of less activity. What has been affected the most is my vision. My left eye does not blink and it gets dry and very sensitive. More breaks from work are necessary, with closing my eyes for relief and healing. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my life and exploring inside myself in order to prevent another occurrence of a stress related illness.